Business Development Manager – Bancassurance & Alternative Channels

Role Overview

As Business Development Manager – Bancassurance & Alternative Channels, you will find and win distribution partnerships that bring insurance to customers through banks, lenders, fintechs and other established platforms in Kenya. You will manage deals from first approach through launch, with responsibility for turning signed agreements into active partnerships, customer growth and Gross Written Premium (GWP).

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue prospective partners among banks, SACCOs, MFIs, digital lenders, fintechs, mobile network operators, aggregators and other alternative channels.
• Build relationships with senior commercial and executive decision-makers, and guide opportunities through pitching, negotiation, contracting and launch.
• Maintain a focused pipeline, tracking deal value, next steps, conversion prospects and expected closing dates.
• Meet assigned new-business GWP targets by converting partnerships into premium production and customer acquisition.
• Develop partner-specific proposals and negotiate commercially sustainable terms, while seeking opportunities to win business from competitors and grow market share.
• Work with internal teams to shape relevant embedded insurance propositions, including credit-linked cover, hospital cash and other protection products.
• Coordinate onboarding and commercial readiness with Product, Insurance Operations, Technology, Finance and Partnerships colleagues; ensure agreed launches stay on track.
• Hand over activated partnerships to the Partnership Success team with documented commitments and growth priorities, and monitor progress toward revenue generation.
• Track developments in Kenya’s bancassurance, microinsurance and alternative-distribution markets, including competitor offers, pricing and emerging customer needs.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Insurance, Finance, Marketing, Economics or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant business development or institutional partnership acquisition experience; insurance, bancassurance, fintech or financial services experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to originate, negotiate and close commercial partnerships.
• Established professional relationships within Kenya’s banking, SACCO, MFI, fintech or broader financial services ecosystem.
• Working knowledge of insurance distribution, embedded insurance or credit-linked protection products.
• Strong commercial negotiation, presentation and financial analysis skills, with the confidence to influence C-suite leaders and other senior stakeholders.
• A proactive, accountable approach to prospecting, deal progression and target delivery, combined with the ability to coordinate effectively across internal teams.
• Insurance qualifications such as COP, AIIK or ACII are an advantage.